Survivors First launch in Rochdale

Many turned out to support a march against child sexual abuse and exploitation on Saturday (25 August).

Survivors First, a UK-wide group of survivor organisations, came together to make local voices heard in Rochdale.

A number of groups met at Rochdale Town Hall alongside members of the public before marching to Number One Riverside and then to the bandstand in Broadfield Park for speeches.

Speeches were given by speakers from across the UK, detailing their experiences of abuse and sending a message of hope.

Tributes were also laid as a mark of respect to those whose lives have ended as a result of CSE.

 

 

Survivors First was set up to ensure survivors voices are heard, and that child protection and prevention are in the public interest.

Founding member of Survivors First and member of the victims and survivors’ consultative panel for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Daniel Wolstencroft said: “We cannot do this alone; together, our voice is stronger.

“We aim to work with local authorities, support services and those who come into contact with survivors, including the police, to work to create a safe environment where survivors feel they can come forward to seek support and justice from trauma informed services.

“From our own personal experiences and from hearing from the voices of other survivors we know people are frightened to come forward and disclose. When they do come forward the specialist support isn't always there.

“We know people are afraid to disclose to the police and can be afraid of people in any position of authority due to past experiences. We want people to know that things have changed. Reporting abuse has changed. Police resources in this field have changed.

“From our experience, people who have been sexually abused are desperate to be heard and the majority feel they don't know where to go or who best to speak to.

“One of the main aims of Survivors First is to be part of the solution, we don’t believe in putting it all on the authorities: our way forward is a message of personal responsibility and working together to achieve safe and timely change. We believe, from our lived experiences and from hearing from the voices of many survivors, that self-empowerment is key.”

 

 

He added: “We begin to realise we deserve better and it wasn't our fault what happened: we start to understand the impact issues and that the male adaptive coping mechanisms we used are unhealthy and become redundant.

“We create a new way of living through support from our peers and develop new tools to cope with life and begin to make the transition from victim to survivor.

“We believe that, given the chance, we can become an important part of preventing young girls walking around the streets at night in ignorance and we can also help young children locked in abuse behind a computer. We want to shout it from the rooftops: ‘you are not alone.’

“Together we feel we have a duty and opportunity with our collective skill sets as Survivors First to leave behind a legacy of peer support groups throughout the UK so people don't have to suffer alone isolated in silence."